Sri Lanka Tourism Update

Sri Lanka to establish air links with Seychelles

2013-07-01T11:38:00.001+05:00

The Sri Lankan government has expressed interest in establishing air links with the island of Seychelles to catalyze the trade and tourism between the two countries.

During a meeting with the Seychelles President James Michel, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is on a two-day visit to the island nation has confirmed that Sri Lanka's national carrier SriLankan Airlines is keen to start flights to Seychelles this year.

President Michel has welcomed the decision, adding that the air links would boost trade and tourism between Sri Lanka and Seychelles.

"The new flights will surely open doorways for business, tourism, cooperation and trade exchanges between Seychelles and Sri Lanka. Seychelles can become a gateway to Africa and other parts of the world. The air links will be a catalyst to ensure increased cooperation between our two countries," President Michel has said.

The details of the new air links will be further discussed in the near future.

http://www.colombopage.com

Maldives Eon Resorts to build US$170mn hotel in Sri Lanka

2013-06-20T21:19:00.002+05:00

EoN Resorts (Pvt) Ltd, a Maldives-based resorts developer has applied to build a 170 million US dollar luxury hotel in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo, the state information office said.

The cabinet of ministers had approved a joint proposal by investment promotion minister Lakshman Abeywardena and fisheries minister Rajitha Senaratne to site the project on Colombo's D R Wijewardene Mawatha.

The project will be on land belonging to Cey-Nor Foundation, an enterprise coming under the fisheries ministry and state land on which an excise office is located at the moment.

The project involves a 45-storey building with a 300 room hotel catering to leisure and business travellers and 100 luxury apartments.

It will also have a 150,000 square feet shopping mall and a 2000 square feet food court.

http://www.lankabusinessonline.com

Sri Lanka tourist arrivals up by 21.8 percent in May

2013-06-18T16:41:00.000+05:00

Sri Lanka's tourist arrivals rose 21.8 percent in May this year compared to the same period last year, the data released Monday by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) showed.

The month recorded 70,026 tourists arriving in the country compared to the 57,506 arrived in May 2012.

Tourist arrivals recorded a 13.2 percent increase in the first five months of this year with 438,653 tourists arriving in the island.

Overall arrivals from North America rose 15.2 percent to 24,259 this year. Arrivals from the US rose 31.0 percent during the first five months of 2013 while arrivals from Canada marginally declined 0.1 percent to 10,715.

Tourist arrivals from Western Europe reached 176,624 during the first five months rising 13.7 percent from the 155,288 tourists arrived in the same period last year.

Arrivals from Eastern Europe increased 23.4 percent with the arrival of 35,256 tourists while tourist arrivals from Middle East declined by 2.9 percent.

Arrivals from South Asia increased by 7.2 percent with 103,699 tourists visiting the island while, arrivals from India declined 2.2 percent in the first five months of 2013 due to the anti Sri Lankan campaign in the Tamil Nadu state of India. However during the month of May arrivals from India increased by 8.5 percent.

Sri Lanka fulfilled its target of one million tourist arrivals last year and earned over US$ 1 billion from tourism. The country targets 2.5 million tourist arrivals by 2016.

Since the end of the war against the Tamil Tiger terrorists in May 2009, the country has seen steady rise in tourist arrivals every year for the past four years.

http://www.colombopage.com

Sri Lanka shores up homestay offerings

2013-06-18T16:38:00.002+05:00

SRI Lanka, hoping to double accommodation capacity on the island, is actively encouraging local families to open their homes to foreign visitors – and earn money in the process.

The government is dangling several incentives, including a grant of up to one million Sri Lankan rupees (US$7,800) to match any investment homestay operators make in upgrading their product.

Locals can also avail of free training and advice from accountants, architects, marketers on housekeeping, cooking and free publicity offered through the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority’s new programme launched last week.

Anura Lokuhetty, deputy chairman and CEO, Serene Pavilions boutique hotel, said homestays and community tourism were positive ways to bridge the demand-supply gap for accommodation and could add another 1,000 to 1,500 rooms to inventory.

The hospitality veteran also pointed out that the homestay concept provided visitors the opportunity to get a feel of the local culture and people, and live like a local.

Nilmin Nanayakkara, managing director, Nkar Tours & Travels, said community tourism helped the economic benefits of tourism trickle down to the villages. Homestays would be attractive to university students, backpackers and travellers seeking a different experience.

“We handle the Scandinavian inbound market where many clients are university students and they would love this cost-effective (option),” he commented. But he cautioned that Sri Lanka needed “good-quality homes”.

Homestay prices begin at US$20 per night inclusive of breakfast, compared to other forms of accommodation that charge upwards of US$40. About 160 homes with two to four rooms each are listed on the Sri Lanka Tourism website for homestays. The country aims to attract 2.5 million visitors by 2016, five times the 500,000 arrivals in 2009.
http://ttgasia.com

Sri Lanka launches domestic airline to cater to tourism boom

2013-06-18T16:36:00.001+05:00

A new domestic airline linking the Colombo international airport and the southern tourist resorts of the island has been launched, officials said today.

Cinnamon Air will launch domestic flights from the end of June.

Cinnamon Air, operating Cessna 208 Amphibious aircraft, will offer daily flights from the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) to Koggala and Dickwella, officials said.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com

Record number of tourists arrive in Kandy to witness “Perahera”

2012-07-30T23:57:00.005+05:00

Sri Lanka’s historic Kandy Esala Perahera which is now ongoing, has seen record number of foreigners arriving in the hill capital to witness the cultural pageant.

Sri Lanka Tourism says around 6000 tourists have visited the sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic and the visitors exceeding a figure of 8000 have watched the row of live pageants touring the streets since the start of the event.

“Almost all city hotels and other places of stay have been occupied more than 80% from the beginning of last week to date”, added Sri Lanka Tourism in a statement issued.

SLT says other service providers related to travel and tourism sector too are getting good business owing to this.

Foreign media channels such as CNN, AFP and NHK also have arrived, to do cover the event.

Authorities expect the number of tourists visiting the hill capital to rise, during the ‘Final Randoli Perahera’ which is scheduled to tour the streets on 1st of August.

Sri Lanka to grant permission for foreign tourists to view sunken ships

2012-07-30T23:57:00.001+05:00

Sri Lanka's Southern Provincial Council Minister of Tourism P.D. Ariyathilaka says that the government has decided to grant permission for the foreign tourists to dive to view the sunken ships close to the southern coast.

Southern Provincial Council in its moves to promote tourism has sought permission of the Department of Archaeology in this regard.

Accordingly, the permission will be granted from October for tourists to dive to view the sunken ships.

Several private companies are to provide the services to the aspirant tourists.

Scores of sunken ships are in the southern sea of the island close to Galle harbor which was a trade hub since ancient times.

Sri Lanka tourist arrivals up 15.7-pct in January

2012-02-18T20:37:00.000+05:00

Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka increased 15.7 percent to 85,874 in January 2012 from a year earlier, maintaining growth but at a slower pace than last year, official data showed.

In January last year arrivals grew a steep 64 percent and year with annual growth clocking at 30 percent as the end of a 30-year war generated a tourism boom.

Western Europe continued to dominate with arrivals growing 11.9 percent to 36,497 though UK arrivals fell 14.2 percent to 8,162.

UK tourism has been hit by economic troubles and a British tourist was also murdered in December in Sri Lanka and his girlfriend and colleague allegedly raped by a gang led by a ruling politician in the South of the island.

But German arrivals rose 7.0 percent to 5,933 visitors from the Netherlands were up 22.4 percent to 3,590, from Italy up 31 percent to 2,107 and from Sweden up 25 percent to 2,876.

Arrivals from Eastern Europe rose 22 percent to 6,838 with Russian visitors up 43 percent to 2,790. Middle Eastern visitors were up 70 percent to 3,950.

East Asian arrivals rose 28 percent to 9,334 with Chinese tourists rising 21.5 percent to 1,952. Visitors from Japan rose 30 percent to 1,866 and Singaporean arrivals rose 41 percent to 1,453.

South Asian arrivals grew only 7.3 percent with Sri Lanka key generating market India, growth only 6.0 percent to 14.615. Indian currency has weakened over the last few months and visa free status for Indian also ended from December.

Sri Lanka now has an electronic travel authorization process, which however is likely to make it easier for visitors from many countries where visas were previously issued manually to enter the country.

Lanka's culture, tourism promoted in Washington

2012-02-18T20:36:00.000+05:00

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Washington DC and the Indian Executive Director's Office of the World Bank organised a Sri Lankan cultural performance at the World Bank Headquarters earlier this week, as part of a continuing series of events marking Sri Lanka's 64th Year of Independence.

The show featured a series of dances by Sri Lanka's Channa-Upuli Performing Arts Foundation and a performance by singer Visharada Jananath Warakagoda. It was attended by the staff of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and several US federal agencies.

The audience also included top bank executives Mukesh Nandan Prasad, Executive Director of the World Bank for India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka, Isabel Guerrero, the World Bank's Vice President for South Asia and Arvind Virmani, an IMF executive director.

Deputy Chief of Mission Ambassador Esala Weerakoon welcomed the guests to the performance.

He said, "Channa-Upuli has created a name for Sri Lanka's dance culture by proving that dance is a language understood by all. One cannot imagine a world without dance and music.

"It would be a dreary and colourless existence with little communication among people. Dance and music are the glue that holds us together, the cultural fabric of our lives and they sow the seeds for inventive, universally shared experiences."

The performance was part of a continuing series of events sponsored by the Embassy to promote both Sri Lankan culture and tourism. Past events have included a Sri Lankan chef series at the World Bank, signature tours of Sri Lanka for American professionals and receptions with travel writers and travel industry professionals.

The World Bank's Prasad praised the performance and said "I had an opportunity to visit Sri Lanka recently and found that it is a beautiful place, tranquil, calm and at peace with itself."

Lanka’s leopard poster wins international award

2011-11-20T21:27:00.003+05:00

A poster showing a pair of Sri Lanka leopards has been named Best Poster for the South Asia Region in an international competition. The poster was created and submitted by Sri Lanka Tourism for the Vettor Giusti Tourism Poster Competition, which is held once in two years to mark the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) General Assembly sessions.

The winning posters will be on display in the entrance hall of the UNWTO building in Madrid, Spain. Sri Lanka Tourism has launched a campaign under the banner, “Refreshingly Sri Lanka”, leveraging on the country’s natural wealth and beauty. The content of the campaign falls into eight categories, based on the eight letters that spell “Sri Lanka.” As a tourism destination, the country can boast of a wide range of wildlife – from the leopard and the sloth bear to the elephant and the blue whale – all encompassed in a relatively small geographical area, the campaign points out.

Sri Lanka has the potential to become the “Wildlife Wonder of Asia” as long as the country’s tourism potential is properly tapped, say conservationists. Feedback from visitors suggest that this is not happening.

Answering a recent survey questionnaire, tourists said they were “satisfied” with the wildlife experience in game reserves in general, but not with the “overall experience.” They cited setbacks such as a lack of knowledgeable guides, congestion in parks, and negative behaviour by jeep drivers who disturbed animals. They also mentioned park infrastructure deficiencies, such as inadequate visitor centres and unclean toilets. All these factors, they said, prevented them from describing their visit to Sri Lanka as “memorable.”

Tourists mentioned popular national parks in other countries where visitor numbers and conduct within parks are monitored.

In India, many of the tiger reserves have a daily quota for vehicles permitted inside, and strict rules on the number of vehicles allowed per route. In game reserves in South Africa, only a limited number of safari jeeps are allowed for each wildlife sighting, and only one vehicle at a time is permitted at an observation point. In Ruwanda, a maximum eight visitors at a time are allowed to observe the rare Mountain Gorillas.

The fact that all these tours are always fully booked attests to visitor satisfaction with the arrangements. The “sustainable tourism” lobby in Sri Lanka would like to see Sri Lanka pitched as a high-end conservation tourism destination, while avoiding the pitfalls of mass tourism. This would be economically beneficial and protective of the wildlife within the wildlife parks, they say. The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau is working closely with conservationists to promote regulated, well-conducted wildlife tourism.

Vipula Wanigasekera, acting director-general of Sri Lanka Tourism, told the Sunday Times that research was being done to determine visitor capacity for Yala National Park, and that an action plan was being drawn up.

As a first step, Sri Lanka Tourism and other animal welfare groups are training Yala trackers in game reserve best practices, as observed in other tourism-dedicated countries. Activists say the Department of Wildlife Conservation needs to boost its resources and beef up its numbers in order to manage visitors. More trained guides are urgently needed, they say.

Tourist arrivals hit new record high in 2011

2011-11-09T20:38:00.000+05:00

Sri Lanka's tourist arrivals in the first 10 months of the year has surpassed 2010's record as visitors to the island nation has continued to rise every month on a year-on-year basis since a 25-year civil war ended in May 2009.

Tourist arrivals in the first ten months of 2011 jumped 34.2 percent to 667,569 from a year earlier, higher than Sri Lanka's record annual tourist arrivals of 654,476 reached last year.

The arrivals rose 32.8 percent in October from a year earlier to 69,563.

The government is targeting annual revenue of $2.75 billion by 2016 from 2.5 million expected visitors attracted by Sri Lanka's beaches, hills and religious and historic sites, while aiming for $3 billion in foreign direct investment.

Sri Lanka has forecast 20 percent growth in visitor arrivals this year to more than 780,000 people. Last year, the industry grew at 46 percent. The island's tourism industry drew $1.2 billion for investment in the first half of 2011.

Tourism revenue, which jumped 64.8 percent in 2010 to a record $575.9 million, has risen 48.1 percent in the first nine months of this year from a year earlier to $580.1 million, central bank data shows. (Reuters)

Sri Lankan Airlines spearheads tourism growth

2011-11-09T20:28:00.004+05:00

Sri Lankan Airlines is leading the destination’s future growth in tourism as it moves on from its conflict-struck past. The carrier, which has operated from London for 30 years, has started a phase of growth and modernisation in a five year plan, which includes a US$5 million investment.

Kapila Chandrasena, director and CEO at Sri Lankan Airlines told Travel Daily the carrier has added four aircraft this year and launched new services to Moscow, with the re-introduction of its Zurich services on 23 December. He said the airline had taken a leadership in the tourism initiative and is ‘trailblazing’ the way for more tourists.

“We see huge opportunity for Sri Lanka in Europe. With the dawn of peace, the economy is buoyant, it is showing growth and we this as an opportunity to show what the country has to offer,” he explained. “New areas and experiences are being opened up and the government has made tourism a key initiative”.

Meanwhile, the airline’s competition from Middle East carriers has prompted Sri Lankan Airlines to update its onboard product, from seats through to meals. This includes a new business class seat which goes to a flatbed, modern in-flight entertainment and cabin crew training. The carrier will also offer an a la carte menu in its business class so passengers can choose when they eat.

“The challenge is not to get complacent,” said Chandrasena. “We are looking at a more integrated push so as the national carrier we are showing Sri Lanka as a destination and not just our airline. The worst is over and the environment is now very different from how it was five years ago”.

To ease traveller concerns over domestic transportation and currently undeveloped roads in Sri Lanka, the airline has also launched air taxi services so tourists can reach their holiday easier.

Meanwhile, as Sri Lanka gears up to host the England cricket team’s tour in March, Chandrasena said sports tourism will continue to be a key tourism driver for the country. Its government is currently bidding to host the Commonwealth Games in 2018.

Sri Lanka and Argentina tipped as the hottest ‘up and coming’ holiday destinations

2011-11-08T20:24:00.001+05:00

Five countries known as ‘the SLIMMA nations’ are the next big emerging tourism destinations to look out for, travel experts say.

Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico and Argentina have been identified for their growth potential and as tourist hotspots to rival the BRIC nations – Brazil, Russia, India and China – according to The World Travel Market 2011 Industry Report.

The report highlighted Sri Lanka’s natural beauty and investment in infrastructure as the country re-emerges after years of civil war, while Indonesia was credited for its diversity and growing population with high levels of disposable income.

Malaysia, which is seen as an Asian destination with a more Westernised feel than nearby countries, was singled out in the report for its aggressive marketing campaigns around the world, while Mexico’s investment in hotels and infrastructure and its low taxes were also highlighted.

Argentina was tipped as an ‘up and coming’ value-for-money holiday destination, which has seen strong economic growth.

In last year’s report, the BRICS nations were named one of the biggest growth opportunities, with China and Russia seen as the most important tourism markets.

www.terminalu.com

WTM to boost ‘Visit Sri Lanka 2011’

2011-11-07T11:52:00.001+05:00

With an eye on reaching 800,000 tourists arrivals to the country by the end this year, Sri Lanka Tourism (SLT) is utilizing World Travel Mart (WTM), their annual overseas promotion in London, to further enhance SLT’s global communication campaign ‘Visit Sri Lanka 2011’.

With the launch of ‘Visit Sri Lanka 2011’ promotional campaign, Sri Lanka tourism aims to achieve a target number of 800,000 tourists to the country with the potential to earn between US$900 million to $1 billion by end of 2011 with the goal of recording 2.5 million tourists to the country by 2016.

WTM which kicked off yesterday at the ExCel Exhibition Centre in London is a 4-day mega market for the travel and hospitality industry, attracting more than 5500 exhibitors from over 200 countries, and creating unparalleled opportunities for buyers and sellers to identify new markets and learn about the latest trends and developments.

Fifty one private sector companies including 29 Destination Management Companies and 22 hotel sector participants are registered with Sri Lanka Tourism Promotional Bureau to participate of this year’s WTM.

According to Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau Managing Director Rumy Jauffer, Sri Lanka will continue to promote in UK and Europe despite the recession.

WTM 2011 will showcase Sri Lanka as ‘Miracle of Asia’ and focus the country as a destination that offers unrivaled variety with 100 waterfalls, 17 national parks, 7 World Heritage sites and over 2,000 years of recorded history.

www.sundaytimes.lk

Sri Lanka has become the most popular Asian destination for the Belgium tourists.

2011-11-06T10:53:00.000+05:00

Sri Lanka has become the most popular Asian destination for the Belgium tourists. During the first nine months of this year nearly 8,000 Belgium tourists visited Sri Lanka.

This was stated by the Sri Lankan Ambassador for Europe Ravinath Aariyasinghe at a function held in Brussels recently. He said that the tourists arrival from Belgium this year recorded 115 percent increase compared to the same period last year. He said that the tourism sector in Sri Lanka had overcome many challenges.

www.slbc.lk

Spotlight on Lankan cuisine in 'My Sri Lanka'

2011-11-06T10:49:00.000+05:00

The Sri Lankan tourism industry is likely to receive a boost with the telecast in Australia of a new 10-part series on Sri Lankan food and tourist hotspots, hosted by Sri Lankan-born celebrity chef Peter Kuruvita.

Kuruvita, the chef and restaurateur behind the Flying Fish Restaurant at Jones Bay Wharf, Pyrmont, Sydney, travelled through all nine provinces to shoot "My Sri Lanka" which has been called part cooking show, part memoir and part travelogue.

According to one Australian reviewer, "the camera work is top-drawer and each episode is likely to leave you craving both Sri Lankan food and a subcontinental sojourn".

As the title suggests, it's an intimate production, full of personal anecdotes and emotional moments. The footage of local wildlife is also notable.

In My Sri Lanka, the award-winning restaurateur treks across the country, sharing recipes, stories and truly breathtaking scenery.

Kuruvita considers himself a proud Australian and a proud Sri Lankan. Time and again his philosophy - that food must be prepared and cooked with love - is evidenced in the joy of those around him.

www.sundayobserver.lk

Sri Lanka to reduce visa service charges

2011-11-06T10:47:00.000+05:00

Sri Lanka Immigration and Emigration Department has submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Finance to reduce service charges for visa procession.

Under the Electronic Travel Authorization system, the new online prior visa approval procedure, which would go into effect from January 01, 2012, a fee of US$ 50 will be charged for a tourist visa with double entry for 30 days.

India, which sends the most tourists to the country, recently urged Sri Lanka to reduce the service charges for visa.

Controller of Immigration and Emigration Chulananda Perera said that the deduction would not be limited to South Asian region.

He said that the Ministry of Finance would submit the proposal to the cabinet soon.

Sri Lanka's tourism industry which has expressed concern of charging the proposed processing fees, has welcomed the move.

Chaaya Wild Yala opens for business

2011-11-06T10:45:00.000+05:00

Chaaya Wild Yala officially opened its doors last Tuesday. The resort which underwent a complete refurbishment and re-branding imprints its signature bordering Yala National Park.

The resort’s offerings stem from responsible tourism practices aimed at conserving and being one with its precious environs.

With over Rs 400 million investment the 66-chalet world class game lodge is placed in what is almost an extension of the Yala National Park with open boundaries to the surrounding wildlife.

The resort was opened by Yala Village Chairman Abeypala Perera in the presence of the CEO, and Sector Head of Sri Lankan Resorts, Jayantissa Kehelpannala, Chaaya Wild Yala General Manager Teddy Roland and Chamika Alwis representing MICD Associates and other distinguished guests.

The Sri Lankan flag and the hotel flag were hoisted in the presence of the staff members; prior to the religious ceremony which took place at the lobby area of the resort.

Located bordering a sanctuary which boasts of the highest density of leopard in Sri Lanka, and home to innumerable wildlife; the resort was named as a tribute to its surroundings.

Designed to bring out the locality and all that is endemic to Yala , the resort architecture bears a resemblance to the name ‘Wild’ and will be of a class that will please even the most widely-traversed wildlife buff. The hotel was designed to represent rustic luxury, resembling game lodges found in Africa by famed architect Channa Daswatte.

The architectural features of the 4-star accommodation in the deep South that would transform and transcend a guests’ expectations. Interiors give a camp look and feel, large trunk boxes, old vintage furniture, director’s chairs and indigenous artwork.

Chaaya Wild Yala is dedicated to promoting the wild, rather than focussing on a hotel experience; Nature Trails the in-house naturalist arm of John Keells Hotels has devised a series of excursions and activities to keep guests of all ages occupied.

www.dailynews.lk

Bollywood`s fresh face Sonakshi on Lanka tour

2011-10-21T21:59:00.001+05:00

Newbie Bollywood actress Sonakshi Sinha has flown down to Sri Lanka on a four-day visit to film a documentary and do a magazine photoshoot.

The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau said that the 24-year-old actress will do a photoshoot at the world heritage site Sigiriya for the European life style magazine L`Officiel and later do a documentary on her Sri Lankan experience with television channel CNN.

This is Sonakshi`s second Lankan visit. She has won multiple awards for her role in `Dabangg` including 2011 Filmfare award for best female debut, 2011 IIFA star debut award female, 2011 star screen award for most promising newcomer female and 2011 Zee cine award for best female debut.

Daughter of veteran actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha, Sonakshi will next be seen opposite Akshay Kumar in `Joker` and `Rowdy Rathore`.

Sri Lanka's tourism arrivals rose 43.5 percent in March 2011 .

2011-05-15T19:10:00.000+05:00

Data from the tourist promotion office showed that Sri Lanka's tourism arrivals rose 43.5 percent in March 2011 to 75,130, with steep increases seen from South Asia and several European generating markets.

An official said that March arrivals were the highest ever for a single month since December 2010, when 84,000 visitors came to the island. Last year Sri Lanka's tourist arrivals rose 46 percent to 654,476 after a 30-year war ended.

www.slbc.lk

Hotel projects galore with US$ 573m investments

2011-05-15T19:08:00.000+05:00

Sri Lankan tourism industry shows signs of being one of the major industries with the influx of mega hotel projects worth US $ 573 million investments and the investor-friendly policies adopted by the Government.

Economic Development Deputy Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said all hindrances that have ruined investors’ interest in investing in the tourism related activities have been removed now.

“In future, preferred and eligible investors in the tourism industry will be able to purchase land for tourism related projects at a government estimated price,” he said.

Prior to this, many investors were reluctant to invest in the tourism sector due to increased basic expenditure of a project. Earlier, investors willing to invest in the tourism industry had to pay Rs 20 million on an acre.

Having considered the hindrances faced by investors, the Cabinet has granted approval to hand over land to investors in the tourism sector at a Government estimated price.

The tourism industry is flooded with a number of industry related projects.

According to Sri Lanka Tourism figures, 99 tourism projects have been received.

Out of the 99 projects, 78 projects have been inspected. Final approval has been given to 12 projects and four projects have been rejected. Twenty one projects are also to be inspected.

The Government is optimistic that if approval is received for the remaining 95 projects, 5,938 hotel rooms can be added this year.

Out of 99 projects, over 46 projects have been submitted by local companies and 12 local projects have been approved. Under the final approved 12 projects, 625 rooms are expected to be added.

www.dailynews.lk

International Tourism Conference inaugurated in Sri Lanka capital

2011-03-24T19:11:00.002+05:00

Sri Lanka inaugurated the International Tourism Conference of the South Asia, East Asia and the Pacific regions organized by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in Colombo today.

The UNWTO is holding the 23rd Joint Meeting of the UNWTO Commission for South Asia and the UNWTO Commission for East Asia and the Pacific at the Hilton Hotel in Colombo, from 24-26 March 2011.

Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa inaugurated the three-day conference under the theme 'Mainstreaming Tourism in the Media' with the participation of 154 member counties and 400 agents of the World Tourism Organization.

The Ministry of Economic Development says that the conference is an opportunity for the country to display its development in tourism sector to the world.

Sri Lanka is one of the 160 countries having membership in the UNWTO. The Organization also has more than 350 Affiliate Members, which represent the private sector, educational institutions, tourism associations, and local tourism authorities

www.colombopage.com

Ritsumeikan innovation and APU's global outreach support Lanka’s human development

2011-03-24T19:10:00.002+05:00

Ritsumeikan, Japan's third largest university system is here in Sri Lanka. Discussions with Professor Kiyofumi Kawaguchi, Chancellor, and Professor Monte Cassim, a Sri Lankan who is Vice-Chancellor of Ritsumeikan, during a visit to Japan by Professor Tissa Vitarana, Honourable Senior Minister of Scientific Affairs and Professor Sirimali Fernando, Chair of the National Science Foundation, marked the beginning of this relationship. For the past two years, Professor Susumu Sugiyama, Ritsumeikan's nanotechnology expert, has been working to establish a global reputation for the Sri Lanka Institute of Nano-Technology, SLINTEC, under a JICA expert dispatch program.

The name Ritsumeikan comes from the discourses of Mencius, the famous Chinese philosopher It means "a place to shape one's destiny" through learning and the continual innovative application of knowledge, Ritsumeikan University traces its roots to a private academy, established in 1869 by Prince Saionji, who later became prime minister of Japan. Saionji's liberal principles have shaped Ritsumeikan's own destiny as it contributed to Japan's modernization, transforming into a modern university in 1900, peace and democracy are ideals that Ritsumeikan holds dear ...They are universal values which Sri Lanka, home to one of the oldest modern parliamentary democracies, also shares.

Ritsumeikan is also working with the Sri Lanka institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management (SLITHM) to develop a new curriculum and pedagogic methods that will enable the institute to better serve the tourism industry and make it "a trend setter for the nation's economic growth", in the words of Dr. Nalaka Godahewa, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourist Board, A training program for SLlTHM faculty and industry representatives is about to be launched soon, Ritsumeikan's resident coordinator for this JICA/JBIC financed project is Mr. Harin Gunawardena, who also acts as Ritsumeikan and APU's representative in Sri Lanka.

http://print.dailymirror.lk

Sri Lanka UN tourism confab to debate media

2011-03-24T19:09:00.000+05:00

Sri Lanka will host a United Nations backed tourism conference covering Asia Pacific which will also debate the role of media in tourism, an official said.

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Commissions for South Asia and East Asia and the Pacific will hold a joint meeting in Colombo from March 24 to 26.

Around 60 delegates from 15 to 20 countries are due to attend the sessions, head of Sri Lanka's tourism authority, Nalaka Godahewa said.

Sri Lanka has seen a surge in tourism arrivals after a 30-year war ended in May 2009. The country has also started to attract international events as travel advisories were lifted and perceptions changed.

"The World Tourism Organization has recognized the important role tourism will play in the post conflict development in Sri Lanka and the unique and diverse products the island has to offer travelers," Godahewa said.

The sessions include a one day seminar on "Mainstreaming tourism in the media" which will see the participation of international media and marketing experts.

UNWTO says since 1950 international tourist trips have grow over 6.0 percent a year with tourism revenues growing 11 percent a year. It is now estimated to 5.0 percent of world gross domestic product, 30 percent of services exports and one it 12 of all jobs.

But news coverage of negative events can hurt industry. Sri Lanka's war, bombings and human rights abuses for example hurt the industry for years.

"While intended as a comprehensive debate on the overall role of the media in tourism, the seminar takes Sri Lanka as its specific case study," UNWTO's conference website said.

"It will look at the relevance of tourism for the country’s development after three decades of political and social unrest and subsequent negative headlines around the world.

"The debate will naturally concentrate on tourism as a key vehicle to rebuild the country’s image with a direct impact on its tourism positioning, but also with positive spill-over effects on Sri Lanka as a marketplace, including its international political profile."

www.lankabusinessonline.com

Sri Lanka to host UNWTO meetings

2011-03-24T19:07:00.002+05:00

The fast recovering Sri Lanka tourism industry is getting another big boost with the World Tourism Organization selecting Sri Lanka as the location for hosting the 23rd Annual Conference of South Asia, East Asia and the Pacific from March 24 to 26.

The conference fits in perfectly the 12 monthly themes of Sri Lanka Tourism where March is dedicated for meetings and conferences.

This event is an important program in the calendar of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the specialized agency of the United Nations in the field of tourism with a membership of 154 countries in seven territories and over 400 affiliate members representing the private sector, educational institutions, tourism associations and local tourism authorities. UNWTO serves as a global forum for tourism policy issues and a practical source of tourism know-how.

A number of tourism specialists and international media personnel are attending this conference and Sri Lanka is making use of this opportunity to show them around the country so that a positive message about Sri Lanka Tourism will be delivered to the world through this key influential people.

The conference will be held under the theme `Mainstreaming tourism in the media` where eminent international speakers such as Marcelo Risi, Dr Victor Wee, Alejandro Ossa, Susan Warren, Simon Calder and Zoltan Somogyi will address.

Some of the topics discussed at this conference would be `Positioning tourism - the media as an ally, Successful promotion: Visit Malaysia Year Project`, `Overcoming adversity: When the only risk is wanting to stay` and `How to sell your story` followed by panel discussions with participating global media.

`World Tourism Organization has recognized the important role tourism will play in the post conflict development of Sri Lanka and the unique advantage Sri Lanka has with our highly diversified product range to become one of the most sought after tourist destinations in the world,` said Sri Lanka Tourism Chairman Dr Nalaka Godahewa. Dr Godahewa has been invited to speak on `Harnessing regional co-operation in tourism development and communication` at the conference.

Apart from the said speakers, foreign participants consist of Tourism Ministers, senior officials, business leaders and marketing specialists from South Asia, South East Asia and Pacific and the UNWTO delegation is led by the Secretary General Dr Taleb Rifai.

The occasion is expected to be attended by Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and Deputy Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena. Sri Lanka Tourism will make use this opportunity to showcase Sri Lanka`s unique attractions and locations and will also add value to the event with journeys on the steamed engine train `Viceroy` and the Jetliner Cruise while Sri Lankan dances and fashion parades will add colour to the evening functions.

Sri Lanka Tourism is taking all measures to convey through the participants that Sri Lanka is not only an ideal platform to exchange ideas of mutual interest, but also one of the safest destinations in the world as well as a location with wide diversity which offers a memorable experience to foreign delegates and visitors.

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